91, of St. Louis died Sunday, January 14, 2018. She was born on a farm in Monroe County, Missouri, the youngest of five daughters, to Tom and Nanny (Bostwick) Lusk on October 18, 1926. Barbara graduated from high school in St. Joseph and attended the University of Missouri, Columbia.
After college she moved to St Louis to check out city living. She began her career with the government, eventually becoming a supervisor at the Defense Mapping Agency, Aerospace Center (DMAAC). While employed in this position she was appointed Federal Women’s manager, representing the St Louis DMAAC organization and president of the DMAAC chapter FEW.
Shortly before her retirement, she was elected mayor of the city of Bella Villa, a suburb of St. Louis, and was reelected mayor for several terms.
Barbara’s thirst for family genealogy was a constant. She was a member and past president of the St. Louis Genealogy Society, and also a member of the Monroe County chapter. Each year on Memorial Day she visited her ancestors, paid her respects with flowers, and often searched for missing family burial locations. July 4th was also the family birthday and was her choice for an annual reunion. Family and friends were invited to the family farm home in Woodlawn; climaxed by dinner and diagrams of her research for those that were interested.
Barbara adopted people and animals. Several people needing temporary help were guests in her home. Farm pets included lambs, kittens and an infant opossum.
Arrangements have been made for her present poodle, Arielle.
Barbara was preceded in death by sisters Laura Delaney, Alice Lusk and Julia Tushaus, nephew Tom H.Bos, and young nephew Tommy Tushaus. Barbara is survived by her sister, Ruth Riley, of Des Moines, IA, step daughters, Debbie Christ and Pattie Notch of St Louis, MO and the late Kathie Savalick, nieces Alice Wilkinson of Cedar Rapids, IA, Nancy Seyfert of Gleneden Beach, OR, and Martha McCormick, Des Moines, IA, and nephews Leo Tushaus of Minneapolis, MN, and David Tushaus of St. Joseph, MO.
Services: A memorial service will be held in the spring of 2018 at the Shelbina Missouri, Lusk Cemetery plot where she will rest with her parents, sisters and grand parents.